06-27-2023, 02:47 PM
(06-27-2023, 02:44 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: Looking at Ayton´s individual performance we are two years removed from a playoff run that had most fans and media talking heads discussing how many DPOY awards he would collect in his career. He was doing it all. Switching onto the perimeter. Defending the post. Protecting the rim. Against the best possible competition. The last guy that at least slowed down Jokic. Dominating AD. Taking away LBJ´s and PG´s matchup hunting with his ability to switch onto them.
Defensive matchup numbers from that run. Defended by Ayton...
Giannis 34/67 FG 50.7%
Jokic 27/64 FG 42.2%
AD 12/32 FG 37.5%
LeBron 9/27 FG 33.3%
PG 6/21 FG 28.6%
Lopez 7/20 FG 35%
And now the difficult question. How do you compare a 22 game sample size of a highly motivated Ayton playing some of the best bigmen defense we have seen over the last 10 years vs a two year sample size of low energy, lack of focus and mediocre impact.
Is it the usual delusional pipe dream of fans and teams that player x/y/z was stuck in a bad situation and will turn back into his best version once he leaves the toxic environment. Or is it realistic to assume that Ayton can be the player we saw during the 20/21 playoff run?
Wait, are you pulling his numbers from the playoffs 3 seasons ago vs the shitting of pants he showed the last two playoffs? How do you think that's valid?